Steering device

Abstract

To prevent an electric cable connecting a steering handle and an outboard motor from being caught by an object existing outside the steering handle and the outboard motor.SOLUTION: The steering device 21 includes the steering handle 22 and the handle bracket 51, the steering handle 22 includes the bar portion 23, the grip, the rotation amount sensor that outputs the signal corresponding to the rotation amount of the grip, and the electric cable 35 that transmits the signal output from the rotation amount sensor, the shaft portion 41 is provided at the rear end portion of the bar portion 23, and the shaft portion 41 is rotatably supported by the handle bracket 51. A handle-side communication passage 71 is provided inside the shaft portion 41, a bracket-side communication passage 72 is provided in the handle bracket 51, and the electric cable 35 extends to the inside of the handle bracket 51 through the inside of the bar portion 23, the handle-side communication passage 71, and the bracket-side communication passage 72.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a steering device that is attached to an outboard motor and that steers a boat, and that has a bar-shaped steering handle. [Background technology]

[0002] Some steering devices for boats have a bar-shaped steering handle. The steering handle is arranged to extend in the fore-and-aft direction, with its rear end attached to the front of the upper part of the outboard motor. The front end of the steering handle is provided with a grip that the operator holds with their hand to steer the boat.

[0003] The grip is attached to the steering wheel so as to be rotatable around an axis extending in the extension direction of the steering wheel. The steering wheel is also provided with a cable that transmits the amount of rotation of the grip to the outboard motor. The outboard motor changes the rotation speed of its power source in accordance with the amount of rotation of the grip transmitted via the cable.

[0004] Furthermore, there are two types of steering handles: mechanical and electrical. Mechanical steering handles have a mechanism that pushes and pulls a cable in response to grip rotation, and the cable in a mechanical steering handle moves in response to grip rotation, thereby transmitting the amount of grip rotation to the outboard motor. An example of a mechanical steering handle is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 6-135390 (Patent Document 1). On the other hand, electric steering handles have a device that outputs an electric signal in response to grip rotation, and the cable in an electric steering handle is an electric cable that transmits an electric signal in response to grip rotation to the outboard motor.

[0005] In addition, many steering handles are attached to the outboard motor at their rear end so that they can rotate about an axis that extends in the left-right direction. This allows the steering handle to be rotated upward from a position in which the steering handle extends horizontally forward from the outboard motor. This ability to rotate the steering handle allows the height of the grip to be adjusted to suit the operator's steering posture, and the position of the steering handle can be changed to avoid getting in the way when tilting up the outboard motor or removing the outboard motor from the boat and transporting it on land. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-135390 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The rear end of the steering wheel is provided with a pivot mechanism for rotatably attaching the steering wheel to the outboard motor. Therefore, in conventional steering wheels, the cable connecting the steering wheel to the outboard motor is routed so as to avoid the pivot mechanism at the rear end of the steering wheel. Specifically, the cable is pulled out from the steering wheel forward of the rear end of the steering wheel, then passes through the air without any cover, and then is pulled into the outboard motor (see, for example, Figures 1 and 3 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 6-135390). As a result, the uncovered portion of the cable passing through the air may get caught on an object outside the steering wheel or outboard motor, potentially damaging the cable. This problem can occur with both mechanical and electric steering wheels.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the problems described above, and an object of the present invention is to prevent an electric cable connecting an electric steering wheel to an outboard motor in a steering device having an electric steering wheel from getting caught on objects outside the steering wheel and the outboard motor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, a steering device of the present invention comprises a steering handle and a handle bracket for attaching the steering handle to an outboard motor, the steering handle comprising a bar section extending in the front-rear direction, an operating section provided on the front end side of the bar section, a signal output section provided inside the bar section for outputting a signal in response to operation of the operating section, and an electric cable for transmitting the signal, the rear end of the bar section being disposed on one side in the left-right direction of the handle bracket, and a shaft section being provided at the rear end of the bar section, the shaft section having an axis extending in the left-right direction and attached to the handle bracket. The handle bracket is provided with a second communication passage arranged opposite to the first communication passage, one end of which opens to the outer surface of one of the left-right directions of the handle bracket and the other end of which communicates with the inside of the handle bracket, and the electric cable extends from the signal output section through the inside of the bar section, the first communication passage, and the second communication passage to the inside of the handle bracket. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the electric cable connecting the steering wheel and the outboard motor from getting caught on objects outside the steering wheel and the outboard motor. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1]1A is an overall view showing an outboard motor provided with a steering device according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the left, and FIG. 1B is an overall view showing the outboard motor as viewed from above. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the steering device taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1(A) as viewed from above. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the steering device taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1(B) as viewed from the left. [Figure 4] 1 is an external view showing a steering wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] FIG. 2A is an external view showing a sensor assembly provided in a steering wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is an explanatory diagram showing the size of a waterproof connector. [Figure 6] 5A to 5C are explanatory diagrams showing an assembly process of the steering wheel shaft portion in the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is an external view showing a handle bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 8] 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the rear end of the bar and the left part of the handle bracket in the steering device in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 9] 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the axis B in FIG. 8, showing the rear end of the bar section and the left part of the handle bracket as viewed from the front. [Figure 10] 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the steering device in FIG. 2, showing the rear end of the bar, the left part of the handle bracket, the electric cable, etc. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A steering device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a steering wheel and a handle bracket for attaching the steering wheel to an outboard motor. The steering wheel also includes a bar extending in the fore-and-aft direction, an operating unit provided at the front end of the bar, a signal output unit provided inside the bar for outputting an operating signal in response to operation of the operating unit, and an electric cable for transmitting the operating signal.

[0013] The rear end of the bar is located on one side of the handle bracket in the left-right direction, and is provided with a shaft that is supported by the handle bracket so as to be rotatable about an axis that extends in the left-right direction.

[0014] A first communication passage is provided inside the shaft portion, one end of which communicates with the interior of the bar portion and the other end of which opens to the outer surface of the shaft portion on the other side in the left-right direction.

[0015] The handle bracket is also provided with a second communication passage. The second communication passage is located opposite the first communication passage, with one end opening to the outer surface on one lateral side of the handle bracket and the other end communicating with the inside of the handle bracket.

[0016] The electric cable extends from the signal output portion through the interior of the bar portion, the first communication passage, and the second communication passage to the inside of the handle bracket.

[0017] In the steering device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the electric cable extends from the signal output unit through the interior of the bar unit, the first communication passage, and the second communication passage to the inside of the handle bracket. Therefore, the electric cable is successively covered by the bar unit, the shaft unit, and the handle bracket from the signal output unit to the inside of the handle bracket. This configuration reduces or eliminates the portion of the electric cable that runs uncovered through the air. This prevents the electric cable from getting caught on objects outside the steering wheel or outboard motor. [Example]

[0018] The following describes the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. In describing the embodiments, the directions of up (Ud), down (Dd), front (Fd), back (Bd), left (Ld), and right (Rd) refer to the arrows at the bottom of each figure, except for Figure 5.

[0019] (Outboard motor) Fig. 1(A) shows an outboard motor 1 provided with a steering device 21 according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the left, and Fig. 1(B) shows the outboard motor 1 as viewed from above.

[0020] The outboard motor 1 is a device that generates propulsive power for a boat and is attached to the boat. The outboard motor 1 includes a power source (not shown) and a propeller 2 that converts power from the power source into propulsive power.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1(A), the outboard motor 1 is provided with a clamp bracket 4 that mounts the outboard motor 1 to the transom of a boat. A swivel bracket 6 is connected to the clamp bracket 4 via a tilt shaft 5. A pilot shaft 7 is rotatably inserted inside the swivel bracket 6. A steering bracket 8 is provided above the swivel bracket 6, and a mount bracket 9 is provided below the swivel bracket 6, with the upper and lower ends of the pilot shaft 7 connected to the outboard motor 1 via the steering bracket 8 and the mount bracket 9, respectively. In this way, the outboard motor 1 is mounted to the boat by the clamp bracket 4, swivel bracket 6, pilot shaft 7, steering bracket 8, and mount bracket 9 so as to be rotatable horizontally relative to the boat.

[0022] The outboard motor 1 is also provided with a steering device 21 for steering the boat. The steering device 21 is disposed in front of the steering bracket 8 and is attached to the front end of the steering bracket 8. A display unit 10 is provided above the handle bracket 51 of the steering device 21, and the display unit 10 is attached to the upper wall of the handle bracket 51. The display unit 10 includes, for example, a display, which shows information about the outboard motor 1, such as the rotation speed of the power source, for example.

[0023] (Steering device) Fig. 2 shows a cross section of the steering device 21 taken along the cutting line II-II in Fig. 1(A) as viewed from above. Fig. 3 shows a cross section of the steering device 21 taken along the cutting line III-III in Fig. 1(B) as viewed from the left (bottom in Fig. 1(B)).

[0024] As shown in Figure 2, the steering device 21 includes a steering handle 22 for rotating the outboard motor 1 horizontally relative to the boat, and a handle bracket 51 for attaching the steering handle 22 to the front end of the steering bracket 8 of the outboard motor 1.

[0025] (Steering wheel) Figure 4 shows the steering wheel 22 before it is attached to the handle bracket 51. Figure 5(A) shows the sensor assembly 32 provided on the steering wheel 22. Figure 5(B) shows the waterproof connector 36 as viewed from the front.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the steering handle 22 includes a bar portion 23, a grip 30, a rotation amount sensor 33, an electric cable 35, and a waterproof connector 36.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, the bar portion 23 is formed in an overall cylindrical shape that extends in one direction. The bar portion 23 is arranged to extend in the fore-and-aft direction of the outboard motor 1. The bar portion 23 is formed by joining a base portion 24 and a lid portion 27 together. The base portion 24 is long in one direction (fore-and-aft direction) and is formed in a generally box-like shape with an open top. The lid portion 27 is long in one direction (fore-and-aft direction) and is formed in a generally box-like shape with an open bottom. The lid portion 27 is arranged above the base portion 24 and attached to the base portion 24 so as to cover the opening of the base portion 24. As shown in FIG. 2, an accommodation space 28 is formed inside the bar portion 23 to accommodate a rotation amount sensor 33 and the like.

[0028] As shown in Figure 4, the grip 30 is provided on the front end side of the bar section 23. The grip 30 is the part that the operator holds with his / her hand when steering the vessel. The grip 30 is attached to the bar section 23 so as to be rotatable around an axis A extending in the fore-and-aft direction. Specifically, as shown in Figure 2, a grip support section 29 that protrudes forward from the front end of the base section 24 is formed integrally with the base section 24, and the grip 30 is rotatably attached to the outer periphery of the grip support section 29. The grip 30 is a specific example of an "operating section."

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the rotation amount sensor 33 is provided in the accommodation space 28 of the bar portion 23. The rotation amount sensor 33 outputs an operation signal corresponding to the rotation amount of the grip 30. The grip 30 is connected to the rotation amount sensor 33 via the grip shaft 31 and the shaft connection portion 34, and the rotation of the grip 30 is input to the rotation amount sensor 33 via the grip shaft 31 and the shaft connection portion 34. A variable resistor, for example, can be used as the rotation amount sensor 33. For example, the operation signal is a signal whose voltage changes according to the rotation amount of the grip 30. The rotation amount sensor 33 is a specific example of a "signal output portion."

[0030] The electric cable 35 transmits the operation signal output from the rotation amount sensor 33. The front end of the electric cable 35 is connected to the rotation amount sensor 33, and the front portion of the electric cable 35 is disposed behind the rotation amount sensor 33 within the accommodation space 28 of the bar part 23. In addition, the rear portion of the electric cable 35 is drawn out from the rear end of the bar part 23 to the outside of the bar part 23, as shown in FIG.

[0031] The waterproof connector 36 is disposed outside the bar portion 23 and attached to the rear end of the electric cable 35. As shown in FIG. 2, the waterproof connector 36 is connected to a mating waterproof connector 37. The mating waterproof connector 37 is connected to the outboard motor 1 via another electric cable 38. The outer diameter D (diagonal length) of the waterproof connector 36 shown in FIG. 5(B) is larger than the outer diameter of the electric cable 35 and also larger than the diameter of a handle-side communicating passage 71, which will be described later.

[0032] When the boat operator grasps the grip 30 and rotates it about the axis A, an operation signal corresponding to the amount of rotation of the grip 30 is output from the rotation amount sensor 33, and this operation signal is transmitted to the outboard motor 1 via the electric cable 35, waterproof connector 36, mating waterproof connector 37, and electric cable 38. The outboard motor 1 changes the rotation speed of the power source in response to this operation signal. With this configuration, the boat operator can change the magnitude of the propulsive force generated by the outboard motor 1 by rotating the grip, thereby changing the speed of the boat.

[0033] Furthermore, when manufacturing the steering wheel 22, the rotation amount sensor 33, shaft connection portion 34, electrical cable 35 and waterproof connector 36 are supplied by the parts manufacturer as a single integrated part, i.e., sensor assembly 32, as shown in Figure 5(A).

[0034] (Steering wheel shaft) As shown in FIG. 4 , a pair of shafts 41 are provided at the rear end of the bar section 23 of the steering wheel 22 to rotatably mount the steering wheel 22 to a handle bracket 51 about an axis B extending in the left-right direction. One shaft 41 is provided at the right portion of the rear end of the bar section 23, and the other shaft 41 is provided at the left portion of the rear end of the bar section 23. Each shaft 41 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction. The right shaft 41 extends rightward from the right wall 25 at the rear end of the base 24 of the bar section 23. The left shaft 41 extends leftward from the left wall 26 at the rear end of the base 24 of the bar section 23. These shafts 41 are arranged coaxially with each other, and the axes of these shafts 41 are both axis B. Furthermore, these shafts 41 have symmetrical shapes, have the same outer diameter, and are the same in the left-right direction (the amount of protrusion from the bar section 23).

[0035] Figures 6(A) to 6(D) show the assembly process of the shaft portion 41. The detailed configuration of each shaft portion 41 will be described with reference to Figures 6(A) to 6(D).

[0036] As shown in FIG. 6(A), the right-side shaft portion 41 (the shaft portion 41 on the near side in FIG. 6(A)) is divided into a lower shaft forming portion 42 and an upper shaft forming portion 43 in a direction perpendicular to the axis B, specifically in the vertical direction. The lower shaft forming portion 42 of the right-side shaft portion 41 is integrally formed with the right wall 25 of the rear end of the base 24 of the bar portion 23. The upper shaft forming portion 43 of the right-side shaft portion 41 is a separate member from the base 24. Similarly, the left-side shaft portion 41 (the shaft portion 41 on the far side in FIG. 6(A)) is also divided into a lower shaft forming portion 42 and an upper shaft forming portion 43 in the vertical direction. The lower shaft forming portion 42 of the left-side shaft portion 41 is integrally formed with the left wall 26 of the rear end of the base 24 of the bar portion 23. The upper shaft forming portion 43 of the left-side shaft portion 41 is a separate member from the base 24. The upper shaft forming portion 43 of the right shaft portion 41 and the upper shaft forming portion 43 of the left shaft portion 41 are a common member.

[0037] Also, a notch 44 is formed in the right-side lower shaft forming portion 42. Similarly, a notch 44 is formed in the left-side lower shaft forming portion 42. Also, as shown in FIG. 6(B), the electric cable 35 is arranged inside the notch 44 of the right-side lower shaft forming portion 42.

[0038] 6(C), upper shaft forming portions 43 are assembled onto the right-side lower shaft forming portion 42 and the left-side lower shaft forming portion 42. With the upper shaft forming portions 43 assembled onto the respective lower shaft forming portions 42, they are bolted to the rear end portion of the base portion 24 of the bar portion 23. As a result, the upper portion of the notch 44 formed in the right-side lower shaft forming portion 42 is closed by the right end portion of the upper shaft forming portion 43, and at the same time, the upper portion of the notch 44 formed in the left-side lower shaft forming portion 42 is closed by the left end portion of the upper shaft forming portion 43.

[0039] In this way, the right-side shaft portion 41 is formed into a cylindrical shape by assembling the upper shaft forming portion 43 onto the lower shaft forming portion 42 formed on the right wall 25 of the rear end of the base 24 of the bar portion 23 (by mating the lower shaft forming portion 42 and the upper shaft forming portion 43 with each other). In addition, the notch 44 formed in the right-side lower shaft forming portion 42 forms a space inside the right-side shaft portion 41 that passes through the right-side shaft portion 41 in the left-right direction. Similarly, the left-side shaft portion 41 is formed into a cylindrical shape by assembling the upper shaft forming portion 43 onto the lower shaft forming portion 42 formed on the left wall 26 of the rear end of the base 24 of the bar portion 23 (by mating the lower shaft forming portion 42 and the upper shaft forming portion 43 with each other). In addition, the notch 44 formed in the left-side lower shaft forming portion 42 forms a space inside the left-side shaft portion 41 that passes through the left-side shaft portion 41 in the left-right direction. The lower shaft forming portion 42 is a specific example of a "first shaft forming portion," and the upper shaft forming portion 43 is a specific example of a "second shaft forming portion."

[0040] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 6(C) and 6(D), an annular member, specifically a sliding bearing 45, is attached to the outer periphery of each shaft portion 41.

[0041] (Handle bracket) FIG. 7 shows a handle bracket 51. As shown in FIG. 7, the handle bracket 51 includes an upper wall 52, a right wall 53 disposed to the right of the upper wall 52, a left wall 54 disposed to the left of the upper wall 52, and a rear wall 55 disposed behind the upper wall 52. Note that the handle bracket 51 of this embodiment does not have a front wall or a lower wall. Also, although detailed illustration is omitted, the handle bracket 51 is fixed to the steering bracket 8, for example, by bolting the rear wall 55 to the front end surface of the steering bracket 8. Note that the left wall 54 is a specific example of a "first side wall," and the right wall 53 is a specific example of a "second side wall."

[0042] Inside the handle bracket 51, a bracket internal space 56 is formed, surrounded by an upper wall 52, a right wall 53, a left wall 54 and a rear wall 55.

[0043] Furthermore, a shaft support hole 57 is formed in the left wall 54 of the handle bracket 51 to rotatably support the right shaft 41 of the steering wheel 22 on the handle bracket 51. The shaft support hole 57 penetrates the left wall 54 in the left-right direction. Note that a shaft support hole 57 is also formed in the right wall 53 of the handle bracket 51, but when the rear end of the steering wheel 22 is positioned to the left of the handle bracket 51, the shaft support hole 57 formed in the right wall 53 of the handle bracket 51 is not used.

[0044] A handle support portion 58 is provided on the left side of the handle bracket 51, which rotatably supports the rear end of the steering wheel 22 on the handle bracket 51. The right end portion of the handle support portion 58 is fixed to the left surface of the left wall 54 of the handle bracket 51. A shaft support hole 59 is provided on the left end portion of the handle support portion 58, which rotatably supports the left shaft portion 41 of the steering wheel 22 on the handle support portion 58 (see Figures 8 and 9). The shaft support holes 57 and 59 are arranged coaxially with each other, and both have axes that coincide with axis B. The diameters of the shaft support holes 57 and 59 are approximately equal to the overall outer diameter of the shaft portion 41 and the sliding bearing 45 attached to the shaft portion 41 (the former diameter is slightly larger than the latter outer diameter to ensure smooth rotation of the steering wheel 22).

[0045] A cable insertion hole 60 for passing the electric cable 38 is formed in the rear wall 55 of the handle bracket 51. The cable insertion hole 60 penetrates the rear wall 55 in the front-rear direction.

[0046] (Steering wheel support structure) Fig. 8 shows an enlarged cross section of the rear end of the bar section 23 and the left part of the handle bracket 51 in the steering device 21 in Fig. 2. Fig. 9 shows a cross section of the rear end of the bar section 23 and the left part of the handle bracket 51 cut along the axis B in Fig. 8 as viewed from the front (left in Fig. 8).

[0047] 8 and 9, the rear end of the steering wheel 22 is disposed to the left of the handle bracket 51. The pair of shafts 41 of the steering wheel 22 are supported on the left side of the handle bracket 51 so as to be rotatable about an axis B extending in the left-right direction. Specifically, the right shaft 41 of the steering wheel 22 is inserted, via a plain bearing 45, into a shaft support hole 57 formed in the left wall 54 of the handle bracket 51. The left shaft 41 of the steering wheel 22 is inserted, via a plain bearing 45, into a shaft support hole 59 formed in the left end portion of the handle support part 58. With this configuration, the steering wheel 22 can rotate about the axis B relative to the handle bracket 51, i.e., relative to the outboard motor 1.

[0048] 1(A), for example, the steering wheel 22 can be rotated clockwise about axis B from a state in which the steering wheel 22 extends horizontally forward from the outboard motor 1. The operator can rotate the steering wheel 22 upward and further rearward from a state in which the steering wheel 22 extends horizontally forward from the outboard motor 1. The rotation range of the steering wheel 22 is restricted by the handle support part 58 so that the steering wheel 22 cannot be rotated counterclockwise from a state in which the steering wheel 22 extends horizontally forward from the outboard motor 1.

[0049] (Electrical cable layout) 10 shows an enlarged cross section of the rear end of the bar portion 23, a cross section of the left portion of the handle bracket 51, the electric cable 35, the waterproof connector 36, etc. in the steering device 21 in FIG.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 10, an accommodation space 28 is provided inside the bar portion 23 of the steering handle 22.

[0051] A handle-side communication passage 71 is formed inside the shaft portion 41 provided on the right side of the rear end of the bar portion 23. That is, inside the right-side shaft portion 41, a space is formed by a notch 44 formed in the right-side lower shaft forming portion 42, penetrating the right-side shaft portion 41 in the left-right direction. This space is the handle-side communication passage 71. One end of the handle-side communication passage 71 communicates with the accommodation space 28, and the other end of the handle-side communication passage 71 opens to the right outer surface (the end surface on the protruding end side) of the right-side shaft portion 41. As shown in FIG. 8 , the space penetrating the right-side shaft portion 41 in the left-right direction by the notch 44 in the right-side lower shaft forming portion 42 extends along the axis B, and the position of this space coincides with the position of the axis B. Therefore, the handle-side communication passage 71 extends along the axis B, and the position of the handle-side communication passage 71 coincides with the position of the axis B. Although a handle-side communication passage 71 is also formed inside the shaft 41 provided on the left side of the rear end of the bar portion 23, when the rear end of the steering wheel 22 is positioned to the left of the handle bracket 51, the handle-side communication passage 71 formed inside the shaft 41 provided on the left side of the rear end of the bar portion 23 is not used. Also, the handle-side communication passage 71 is a specific example of a "first communication passage."

[0052] 10, a bracket-side communication passage 72 is formed in the left wall 54 of the handle bracket 51. That is, a shaft support hole 57 is formed in the left wall 54 of the handle bracket 51. This shaft support hole 57 is the bracket-side communication passage 72. One end of the bracket-side communication passage 72 opens to the outer surface on the left side of the left wall 54 of the handle bracket 51, and the other end of the bracket-side communication passage 72 communicates with the inside of the handle bracket 51, i.e., with the bracket internal space 56. Note that a bracket-side communication passage 72 is also formed in the right wall 53 of the handle bracket 51, but if the rear end of the steering wheel 22 is positioned to the left of the handle bracket 51, the bracket-side communication passage 72 formed in the right wall 53 of the handle bracket 51 is not used. The bracket-side communication passage 72 is a specific example of a "second communication passage."

[0053] Furthermore, because the right-side shaft portion 41 is inserted into the shaft support hole 57, i.e., the bracket-side communicating passage 72, the bracket-side communicating passage 72 is positioned opposite the handle-side communicating passage 71. Furthermore, the right portion of the handle-side communicating passage 71 fits into the left portion of the bracket-side communicating passage 72, so that the bracket-side communicating passage 72 and the handle-side communicating passage 71 are connected to each other and communicate with each other.

[0054] The electric cable 35 extends from the rotation amount sensor 33 through the interior of the bar portion 23 (inside the accommodation space 28), the handle side communication passage 71 and the bracket side communication passage 72, and into the bracket internal space 56.

[0055] A waterproof connector 36 is attached to the rear end of the electric cable 35, and the waterproof connector 36 is disposed within the bracket internal space 56. A mating waterproof connector 37 is also disposed within the bracket internal space 56. The waterproof connector 36 is connected to the mating waterproof connector 37 within the bracket internal space 56. Furthermore, another electric cable 38 is attached to the mating waterproof connector 37, and the electric cable 38 passes from the bracket internal space 56 through a cable insertion hole 60 and is drawn into the outboard motor 1.

[0056] (Method of assembling the steering device) When manufacturing the steering device 21, the steering device 21 can be assembled, for example, as follows. First, the steering wheel 22 is assembled (steering wheel assembly process). Specifically, the rotation amount sensor 33 and the shaft connection portion 34 (see FIG. 5(A)) of the sensor assembly 32 are first attached to the inside of the base 24 of the bar portion 23. Next, the grip shaft 31 is connected to the shaft connection portion 34. Next, the grip 30 is attached to the grip support portion 29 while connected to the grip shaft 31. Next, the front portion of the electric cable 35 is routed so as to pass behind the portion inside the base 24 of the bar portion 23 where the rotation amount sensor 33 is located and through the notch 44 (steering wheel side communication passage 71) formed in the right lower shaft forming portion 42, and then, as shown in FIG. 6(B), the rear portion of the electric cable 35 is pulled out from the notch 44 (steering wheel side communication passage 71) formed in the right lower shaft forming portion 42 to the outside of the base 24. As a result, the waterproof connector 36 attached to the rear end of the electric cable 35 is positioned outside the base 24. Next, as shown in Figures 6(B) and 6(C), the upper shaft forming portions 43 are assembled onto each lower shaft forming portion 42, and the upper shaft forming portions 43 are fixed to the base 24 with bolts. Next, as shown in Figures 6(C) and 6(D), a plain bearing 45 is attached to each shaft portion 41. When attaching the plain bearing 45 to the right shaft portion 41, the waterproof connector 36 is passed through the inside of the plain bearing 45 before attaching the plain bearing 45 to the right shaft portion 41. Next, the cover portion 27 is attached to the base 24. This completes the steering wheel 22 shown in Figure 4. The above assembly of the steering wheel 22 is performed without disassembling the sensor assembly 32.

[0057] Next, the handle bracket 51 is attached to the steering bracket 8 of the outboard motor 1 (handle bracket attaching process). At the start of manufacturing the steering device 21, the handle bracket 51 and the handle support part 58 are separated from each other. In this process, the handle bracket 51 is attached to the steering bracket 8 without the handle support part 58 attached. When attaching the handle bracket 51 to the steering bracket 8, the mating waterproof connector 37, which is connected to the outboard motor 1 via the electric cable 38, is passed through the cable insertion hole 60 of the handle bracket 51, and the mating waterproof connector 37 is positioned within the bracket internal space 56 of the handle bracket 51.

[0058] Next, the steering wheel 22 is attached to the steering wheel bracket 51 (steering wheel attachment process). Specifically, first, the right shaft 41 of the steering wheel 22 is inserted into the shaft support hole 57 formed in the left wall 54 of the steering wheel bracket 51. At this time, the waterproof connector 36 is passed through the shaft support hole 57 (bracket-side communication passage 72), and the waterproof connector 36 is placed in the bracket internal space 56 of the steering wheel bracket 51. Here, the size of the shaft support hole 57 (bracket-side communication passage 72) is set to a size that allows the waterproof connector 36 to pass through the shaft support hole 57 (bracket-side communication passage 72). For example, the diameter of the shaft support hole 57 is set to a value larger than the outer diameter D (diagonal length) of the waterproof connector 36 shown in FIG. 5(B). Therefore, in this process, the waterproof connector 36 can be passed through the shaft support hole 57 from the left side of the steering wheel bracket 51 and inserted into the bracket internal space 56. Next, while maintaining the state in which the right shaft 41 of the steering wheel 22 is inserted into the shaft support hole 57 of the handle bracket 51, the left shaft 41 of the steering wheel 22 is inserted into the shaft support hole 59 of the handle support part 58. Then, while maintaining this state, the rear end of the steering wheel 22 is sandwiched between the left wall 54 of the handle bracket 51 and the handle support part 58, and the handle support part 58 is attached to the left wall 54 of the handle bracket 51.

[0059] Next, the waterproof connector 36 is connected to the mating waterproof connector 37 (connector connecting step). This completes the steering device 21, and at the same time, the steering device 21 is attached to the outboard motor 1.

[0060] As described above, in the steering device 21 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the electric cable 35 extends from the rotation amount sensor 33 through the interior of the bar portion 23, the handle-side communicating passage 71, and the bracket-side communicating passage 72 into the bracket internal space 56. As a result, the electric cable 35 is successively covered by the bar portion 23, the shaft portion 41, and the handle bracket 51 from the rotation amount sensor 33 to the bracket internal space 56. This configuration reduces or eliminates the portion of the electric cable 35 that runs uncovered through the air. This prevents the electric cable 35 from getting caught on objects outside the steering wheel 22 and outboard motor 1.

[0061] Furthermore, in the steering device 21 of this embodiment, the handle-side communication passage 71 extends along the axis B of rotation of the steering wheel 22, and the position of the handle-side communication passage 71 coincides with the position of the axis B. Therefore, the rear portion of the electric cable 35 passing through the handle-side communication passage 71 extends along the axis B, and the position of the rear portion of the electric cable 35 coincides with the position of the axis B. This makes it possible to prevent the electric cable 35 from interfering with the rotation of the steering wheel 22.

[0062] Furthermore, in the steering device 21 of this embodiment, the shaft portion 41 of the steering wheel 22 is divided into a lower shaft forming portion 42 and an upper shaft forming portion 43, and a notch 44 is formed in the lower shaft forming portion 42, and when the lower shaft forming portion 42 and the upper shaft forming portion 43 are brought together, the notch 44 forms a steering wheel side communicating passage 71. With this configuration, the sensor assembly 32 can be attached to the bar portion 23 without enlarging the shaft portion 41 of the steering wheel 22. Therefore, the efficiency of the assembly work of the steering device 21 can be improved while preventing the steering wheel 22 from becoming larger. More specifically, in the steering wheel 22, the rotation amount sensor 33 is arranged inside the bar portion 23, and the waterproof connector 36 is arranged outside the bar portion 23, and the electric cable 35 connecting the rotation amount sensor 33 and the waterproof connector 36 passes through the steering wheel side communicating passage 71 inside the shaft portion 41. Therefore, if the handle-side communicating passage 71 were formed by drilling a hole in the shaft portion 41 or by molding the shaft portion 41 into a single cylindrical shape, i.e., if the shaft portion 41 were not divided into the lower shaft-forming portion 42 and the upper shaft-forming portion 43, then when assembling the sensor assembly 32 to the bar portion 23, the waterproof connector 36 would have to be passed through the handle-side communicating passage 71 in order to pass the electric cable 35 through the handle-side communicating passage 71. In order to pass the waterproof connector 36 through the handle-side communicating passage 71, the diameter of the handle-side communicating passage 71 would have to be larger than the outer diameter D of the waterproof connector 36. As a result, the shaft portion 41 would become larger, and ultimately the steering wheel 22 would become larger. In contrast to this, the steering device 21 of this embodiment has a configuration in which the shaft portion 41 is divided into a lower shaft forming portion 42 and an upper shaft forming portion 43, a notch 44 is formed in the lower shaft forming portion 42, and a handle side communicating passage 71 is formed when the lower shaft forming portion 42 and the upper shaft forming portion 43 are brought together.Therefore, when assembling the sensor assembly 32 to the bar portion 23, the electric cable 35 is placed in the notch 44 of the lower shaft forming portion 42, and then the upper shaft forming portion 43 is assembled to the lower shaft forming portion 42, so that the electric cable 35 can be placed in the handle side communicating passage 71.In other words, the electric cable 35 can be passed through the handle side communicating passage 71 without passing the waterproof connector 36 through the handle side communicating passage 71.Therefore, the diameter of the steering wheel side communicating passage 71 only needs to be larger than the outer diameter of the electric cable 35, and therefore the diameter of the steering wheel side communicating passage 71 can be smaller than the outer diameter D of the waterproof connector 36. This prevents the shaft portion 41 of the steering wheel 22 from becoming larger, and ultimately prevents the steering wheel 22 from becoming larger. Also, instead of assembling the sensor assembly 32 to the bar portion 23, it is possible to prepare, for example, the rotation amount sensor 33, the shaft connecting portion 34, the electric cable 35, and the waterproof connector 36 in a separate state, connect the shaft connecting portion 34 and the electric cable 35 to the rotation amount sensor 33, then place the rotation amount sensor 33 inside the bar portion 23, pass the electric cable 35 through the steering wheel side communicating passage 71, and then attach the waterproof connector 36 to the electric cable 35. However, in order to attach the waterproof connector 36 to the electric cable 35, it is necessary to solder the core wire of the electric cable 35 to the terminal of the waterproof connector 36, and if such work were to be performed at the assembly site of the steering device 21, it would significantly reduce the efficiency of the assembly work of the steering device 21. In the steering device 21 of this embodiment, the sensor assembly 32, in which the rotation amount sensor 33, shaft connection portion 34, electric cable 35, and waterproof connector 36 are integrated, is attached to the bar portion 23, so there is no need to perform the work of soldering the core wire of the electric cable 35 to the terminal of the waterproof connector 36 at the assembly site of the steering device 21. Therefore, the efficiency of the assembly work of the steering device 21 can be improved.

[0063] In the steering device 21 of this embodiment, the handle bracket 51 defines a bracket internal space 56 surrounded by an upper wall 52, a right wall 53, a left wall 54, and a rear wall 55. The rear portion of the electric cable 35 and the waterproof connector 36 are disposed within the bracket internal space 56. Furthermore, within the bracket internal space 56, the waterproof connector 36 is connected to a mating waterproof connector 37, and another electric cable 38 attached to the mating waterproof connector 37 is passed through a cable insertion hole 60 and drawn into the outboard motor 1. By disposing the rear portion of the electric cable 35, the waterproof connector 36, and the mating waterproof connector 37 within the bracket internal space 56 and drawing the electric cable 38 attached to the mating waterproof connector 37 into the outboard motor 1 in this way, it is possible to prevent the electric cables 35, 38 from getting caught on objects outside the steering handle 22 and the outboard motor 1. In addition, it is possible to prevent the waterproof connector 36 from coming off the mating waterproof connector 37 due to an object outside the steering wheel 22 and the outboard motor 1 colliding with the waterproof connector 36 or the mating waterproof connector 37.

[0064] Furthermore, in the steering device 21 of this embodiment, the diameter of the shaft support hole 57 (bracket-side communicating passage 72) of the handle bracket 51 is larger than the outer diameter D of the waterproof connector 36, so the assembler can insert the waterproof connector 36 into the bracket internal space 56 through the shaft support hole 57 (bracket-side communicating passage 72). Also, the handle bracket 51 in this embodiment does not have a front wall or a rear wall, so the front and bottom of the bracket internal space 56 are open. Therefore, when assembling the steering device 21, the assembler can insert their hand into the bracket internal space 56 from the front or bottom of the bracket internal space 56 and easily connect the waterproof connector 36 to the mating waterproof connector 37.

[0065] In the above embodiment, the shaft portion 41 is vertically divided into the lower shaft forming portion 42 and the upper shaft forming portion 43, but the present invention is not limited to this. The shaft portion may be divided in another direction perpendicular to the axis, for example, in the front-rear direction.

[0066] In addition, in the above embodiment, the notch 44 is formed in the lower shaft forming portion 42, but the notch may be formed in the upper shaft forming portion 43 instead of the lower shaft forming portion 42, or the notch may be formed in both the lower shaft forming portion 42 and the upper shaft forming portion 43.

[0067] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the position of the handle side communicating passage 71 (cutout 44) coincides with the position of the axis B, but the position of the handle side communicating passage 71 (cutout 44) does not have to coincide with the position of the axis B. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the handle side communicating passage 71 (cutout 44) extends inside the shaft portion 41 along the axis B, but the extension direction of the handle side communicating passage 71 (cutout 44) does not have to be along the axis B.

[0068] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the rear end of the steering wheel 22 is disposed to the left of the handle bracket 51, but the present invention is not limited to this. The rear end of the steering wheel 22 may be disposed to the right of the handle bracket 51. In this case, the left shaft 41 of the steering wheel 22 is inserted into the shaft support hole 57 formed in the right wall 53 of the handle bracket 51, the handle support part 58 is attached to the right wall 53 of the handle bracket 51, and the electric cable 35 is passed through the handle side communicating passage 71 (notch 44) formed in the left shaft 41 of the steering wheel 22 and through the bracket side communicating passage 72 (shaft support hole 57) formed in the right wall 53 of the handle bracket 51. In the above embodiment, the handle side communicating passage 71 is formed in both the right and left shaft portions 41, and the bracket side communicating passages 72 are formed in both the right and left walls 53 and 54 of the handle bracket 51. This configuration makes it easy to switch between a mode in which the rear end of the steering handle 22 is positioned to the left of the handle bracket 51 and a mode in which the rear end of the steering handle 22 is positioned to the right of the handle bracket 51.

[0069] In the above embodiment, the rear wall 55 of the handle bracket 51 does not have to be provided. Even if the rear wall 55 is not provided, the rear of the handle bracket 51 can be blocked by the front end surface of the steering bracket 8. Also, a front wall may be added to the handle bracket 51.

[0070] Furthermore, in the steering device 21 of the above embodiment, the operating unit is the grip 30, but the present invention is not limited to this. The operating unit may be, for example, a push button, a knob, or a slider. Furthermore, the signal output unit is not limited to a rotation amount sensor. Furthermore, the object of operation by the operating unit is not limited to the rotation speed of the power source of the outboard motor.

[0071] Furthermore, the present invention can be modified as appropriate within the scope that does not contradict the gist or idea of ​​the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and steering devices with such modifications are also included in the technical idea of ​​the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 1 outboard motor 21 Steering gear 22 Steering wheel 23 Bar Section 30 Grip (operation part) 33 Rotation amount sensor (signal output part) 35, 38 Electrical cables 36 Waterproof Connector 37 Mating waterproof connector 41 Shaft 42 Lower shaft forming portion (first shaft forming portion) 43 Upper shaft forming portion (second shaft forming portion) 44 Notch 51 Handle bracket 52 Upper Wall 53 Right wall (second side wall) 54 Left wall (first side wall) 56 Bracket internal space 71 Handle side communication passage (first communication passage) 72 Bracket side communication passage (second communication passage)

Claims

1. a steering handle and a handle bracket for attaching the steering handle to an outboard motor, The steering handle comprises a bar portion extending in the front-rear direction, an operating portion provided on the front end side of the bar portion, a signal output portion provided inside the bar portion and outputting a signal in response to an operation of the operating portion, and an electric cable for transmitting the signal, The rear end of the bar portion is disposed on one side of the handle bracket in the left-right direction, A shaft portion is provided at the rear end of the bar portion, and the shaft portion is supported by the handle bracket so as to be rotatable around an axis extending in the left-right direction, a first communication passage is provided inside the shaft portion, the first communication passage having one end communicating with the inside of the bar portion and the other end opening to an outer surface of the shaft portion on the other side in the left-right direction; a second communication passage is provided in the handle bracket, the second communication passage being disposed at a position opposite to the first communication passage, the second communication passage having one end opening to an outer surface on one side of the handle bracket in the left-right direction, and the other end communicating with the inside of the handle bracket; A steering device characterized in that the electric cable extends from the signal output portion through the inside of the bar portion, the first communication passage and the second communication passage to the inside of the handle bracket.

2. 2. The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first communication passage extends along the axis, and the position of the first communication passage coincides with the position of the axis.

3. 2. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the shaft portion is divided into a first shaft forming portion and a second shaft forming portion in a direction perpendicular to the axis, a notch is formed in one or both of the first shaft forming portion and the second shaft forming portion, and when the first shaft forming portion and the second shaft forming portion are mated with each other, the notch forms the first communication passage.

4. 2. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the handle bracket has an upper wall, a first side wall disposed on one side of the upper wall in the left-right direction, and a second side wall disposed on the other side of the upper wall in the left-right direction, the second communication passage is provided in the first side wall, and the electric cable drawn out from the first communication passage of the steering handle passes through the second communication passage and then passes through a space surrounded by the upper wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall to be drawn into the outboard motor.

5. 5. The steering device according to claim 4, wherein a waterproof connector is provided at the tip of the electric cable drawn out from the first communication passage of the steering handle, and the waterproof connector is connected to a mating waterproof connector connected to the outboard motor via another electric cable, the size of the second communication passage is set to a size that allows the waterproof connector to pass through the second communication passage, and the waterproof connector and the mating waterproof connector are disposed in a space surrounded by the top wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall of the handle bracket.

Images